158 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785 



was thought would tend to the judicious use of them both in public and 

 in private. 



This Church, therefore, having gone through the important work of 

 accommodating her Service to her new situation ; it is hoi)ed that the 

 divine blessing will attend the same to the promoting of Piety in her 

 children, and to the influencing them to live in peace and love with all 

 Mankind. 



The above " hints " are endorsed in the handwriting of the 

 Rev. Dr. Smith, as follows : 



Proposed by Dr. White. 



N. B. — The Preface has been composed upon another plan by AV. S., 

 who has made use of some of the within " hints." 



Dr. Smith's Preface as finally made, after a few suggestions as 

 to small matters from Dr. White,* came forth in the following 

 form. Dr. White, it is agreeable to know, liked this Preface both 

 in plan and execution. He could hardly do otherwise. It is 

 undoubtedly a grand document, in point, alike, of strong common 

 sense, of argumentative force, of the presentation . of authorities, 

 and of literary elegance and effect : 



The Preface. 



It is a most invaluable part of that blessed " liberty wherewith Christ 

 hath made us free" — that, in his worship, different forms and usages 

 may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the faith be 

 kept entire; and that, in every church, what cannot be clearly deter- 

 mined to belong to doctrine must be referred to discipline; and, there- 

 fore, by common consent and authority may be altered, abridged, en- 

 larged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most con- 

 venient for the edification of the people, "according to the various 

 exigencies of times and occasions." 



The Church of England, to which the Protestant Episcopal Church 

 in these States is indebted, under God, for her first foundation and a 

 long continuance of nursing care and protection, hath in the preface 

 of her book of common prayer laid it down as a rule, that — " The par- 

 ticular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies appointed 

 to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifierent and 

 alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable that, upon weighty 

 and important considerations, according to the various exigencies of 

 times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made there- 

 in, as to those who are in place of authority should, from time to time, 

 seem either necessary or expedient." 



*See infia, page 179 and 181. 



